Lahore, February 26, 2025: Afghanistan scripted a historic victory over England, clinching a nail-biting last-over thriller in the eighth match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a daunting 326-run target, England fell short by nine runs, getting bowled out for 317 in 49.5 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai was the star of the night, claiming a sensational five-wicket haul to seal Afghanistan’s memorable win.
England’s Chase: Root’s Century in Vain
England’s chase got off to a shaky start, as they found themselves reeling at 30-2 within six overs. Phil Salt (12) fell in the third over, followed by Jamie Smith (9), who was caught off Mohammad Nabi’s bowling.
Joe Root then steadied the innings, anchoring the chase with crucial partnerships. He shared a 35-run stand with Harry Brook (25), before the latter fell to a soft dismissal—caught and bowled by Nabi.
With England under pressure, captain Jos Buttler joined Root, and together, they stitched an 83-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Just as England looked to recover, Omarzai struck a crucial blow, dismissing Buttler for 38 off 42 balls, which included two sixes.
Liam Livingstone’s departure for 10, caught behind off Gulbadin Naib, further dented England’s hopes.
Requiring 91 runs from 66 balls with only four wickets in hand, England’s chances looked slim. However, Root fought valiantly, adding 57 runs with Jamie Overton, keeping England in the hunt.
But just as the equation became manageable—39 needed off 24 balls—Omarzai returned to dismiss Root for a magnificent 120 off 111 balls (12 fours, 1 six), his first ODI century since the 2019 World Cup.
With 13 runs needed off the final over and just one wicket in hand, England’s last hope rested on Adil Rashid. But Omarzai delivered under pressure, taking Rashid’s wicket on the second-last ball to seal Afghanistan’s iconic victory.
Besides Omarzai’s five-wicket haul, Nabi picked up two wickets, while Naib, Rashid, and Fazalhaq Farooqi chipped in with one each.
Zadran’s Record-Breaking Knock Sets Up Afghanistan’s Total
Earlier, Ibrahim Zadran’s sublime century powered Afghanistan to a formidable 325 in 50 overs. His record-breaking 177 off 146 balls—the highest individual score by an Afghan batter in ODIs—featured six sixes and 12 boundaries.
Afghanistan had a shaky start, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6), Sediqullah Atal (4), and Rahmat Shah (4) cheaply as Jofra Archer’s early strikes left them at 37-3 in 8.5 overs.
Zadran then led the recovery alongside skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (40), adding 103 runs for the fourth wicket. After Shahidi fell to Adil Rashid, Omarzai contributed a crucial 41 off 31 balls, forming a 72-run stand with Zadran.
The fireworks came in the death overs, as Mohammad Nabi (40 off 24) joined Zadran for a blistering 111-run partnership off just 55 balls. Both fell in the 49th over, but their efforts ensured Afghanistan posted a competitive total.
For England, Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Liam Livingstone claimed two.
This landmark victory marks Afghanistan’s maiden win in the Champions Trophy, showcasing their growing stature in world cricket. With their stunning performance, they have thrown the tournament wide open and issued a strong statement to the cricketing world.
